Savannah River System
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One of Georgia's 14 major watersheds. The Seneca and Tugaloo rivers come together near Hartwell, Georgia, to form the Savannah River. From that point, the Savannah flows 300 miles southeasterly to the Atlantic Ocean. (The map pin is located in Hartwell).
Download a 4-color poster of the Savannah watershed in PDF format (10-11 MB files). Download posters for all of Georgia’s 14 major watersheds. These posters can be examined in detail using Adobe Acrobat, printed in small format on a desktop printer or downloaded to a local print shop and printed in full-size 24” X 36” format.
The Savannah River System
The headwaters of the Savannah River are on the high, forested slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The Tallulah and Chattooga rivers, which form the Tugaloo River on the Georgia-South Carolina state line, and the Whitewater and Toxaway rivers, which form the Keowee River in South Carolina, start in the mountains of North Carolina. The Keowee River and Twelve Mile Creek join near Clemson, South Carolina, to form the Seneca River. The Seneca and the Tugaloo, the two principle headwater streams join near Hartwell, Georgia, to form the Savannah. From that point, the Savannah – the boundary between Georgia and South Carolina – flows about 300 miles to the Atlantic Ocean.
How the Savannah River Got It’s Name
Savannah means “River of the Shawnees,” so named for a remnant of that tribe who lived on the middle waters of the river in early Colonial days.
River Experiences
Listed below are locations where you can see or experience the Savannah River or its tributaries.
A.H. Stephens State Historic Park
This quiet site combines the recreational opportunities of a state park with the educational resources of a historic site. Named after the vice president of the Confederacy and governor of Georgia, A.H. Stephens State Historic Park features a Confederate museum with one of the finest collections of Civil War artifacts in Georgia, with articles such as uniforms and documents. Stephens’ home, Liberty Hall, has been renovated to its original style and is fully furnished and open for tours. Beautiful outdoor facilities make this park attractive for both nature lovers and history buffs.
The Watershed Connection: The park is closely connected to two rivers, the Ogeechee and the Savannah. Just south of the park, the North and South Forks of the Ogeechee, Beaverdam Creek and several other unnamed creeks come together to form the Ogeechee River, which then flows south to the Atlantic. The outflow from the park’s lake is joined by the North and South Forks of Little River, Kettle Creek and several unnamed streams to form Little River, which flows into Clarks Hill Reservoir. That water also eventually reaches the Atlantic, but via the Savannah River. It’s a small but interesting irony of Georgia history that the home of Stephens, a man who was closely involved in the beginnings of the Civil War, is at the headwaters of the Ogeechee while the Battle of Richmond Hill, a Civil War battle whose Union victory hastened the end of the War, occurred at the end of the river.
Black Rock Mountain State Park
Named for its sheer cliffs of dark crystalline rock (biotite gneiss), Black Rock Mountain State Park encompasses some of the most scenic landscape in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. At an altitude of 3,640 feet, it is the highest state park in Georgia. Numerous scenic overlooks provide 80-mile vistas of the southern Appalachians and several hiking trails afford close-up views of wildflowers, streams and forests.
The Watershed Connection: Black Rock Mountain State Park is on the Eastern Continental Divide. As a result, rain that falls on the north side of the mountain flows into the Gulf of Mexico and rainfall on the south side of the mountain flows into the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, Black Rock Mountain is a “triple divide,” meaning that rainfall on the mountain flows into each of Rabun County’s three rivers: the Little Tennessee, the Tallulah and the Chattooga. Water flowing into the Little Tennessee River flows north out of Rabun County, through North Carolina and into Tennessee where it merges with the Tennessee River near Lenoir City. From there, the Tennessee River flows south to Chattanooga, west through Alabama, north through Tennessee (again) and into Kentucky where it joins the Ohio River at Paducah. The Ohio flows into the Mississippi at Cairo, Illinois. From there, the Mississippi runs south to empty into the Gulf of Mexico at New Orleans. On the south side of the mountain, the Tallulah and Chattooga rivers join to form the Tugaloo River, which, along with South Carolina’s Seneca, is a principal tributary of the Savannah River. The Savannah forms the Georgia-South Carolina border until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean just east of the city of Savannah.
Bobby Brown State Park
Located where the old town of Petersburg once thrived during the 1790s, the park is named in memory of Lt. Robert T. Brown, U.S. Navy, who gave his life in World War II. The park’s location on Clarks Hill Reservoir, the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi, provides good fishing and water recreation.
The Watershed Connection: Petersburg was situated where the Broad and Savannah Rivers flow into the Clarks Hill Reservoir. When water levels are low, visitors can spot some foundations that were part of the old town. Below Clarks Hill, the Savannah River continues past Augusta and Savannah to the Atlantic Ocean.
Elijah Clark State Park
Located on the western shore of Clarks Hill Lake, this park is named for a frontiersman and Georgia war hero who led hardy pioneers during the Revolutionary War. A renovated and furnished log cabin museum displays furniture, utensils and tools circa 1780. Visitors can also view graves of Clark and his wife, Hanna. Weekend tours of the log cabin make this park an educational experience for visitors. Fishermen will appreciate the park’s location on Clarks Hill Lake, the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi River.
The Watershed Connection: Clarks Hill Lake is an impoundment of Georgia’s Savannah and Broad Rivers. Below the Clarks Hill Dam, the Savannah continues its course to the Atlantic Ocean.
Hart State Park
Swimming, boating, waterskiing and fishing on Lake Hartwell are the prime attractions at Hart State Park in Northeast Georgia. Largemouth bass, black crappie, bream, rainbow trout and wall-eyed pike can be found in the sparkling waters of this 55,590-acre reservoir. The park’s boat ramps and docks offer easy access to all water sports. Cottages and most campsites are located on the scenic lake shore.
The Watershed Connection: South Carolina’s Seneca River and Georgia’s Tugaloo River form Lake Hartwell. The Savannah River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean, begins below Hartwell Dam.
Mistletoe State Park
This park takes its name from Mistletoe Junction, a local area where young men and women gathered during the holidays to pick mistletoe. Located on Clarks Hill Lake, this park is known as a fine bass-fishing spot. During the summer, guests can cool down at the beach or on shaded nature trails.
The Watershed Connection: Clarks Hill Lake is a Savannah River reservoir.
Moccasin Creek State Park
Known as the park “where the spring spends the summer,” Moccasin Creek is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the shores of Lake Burton. Its central location makes it a perfect jumping-off spot for high-country exploration. Visitors can tour the adjacent trout rearing station, hike on mountain trails or relax in this peaceful setting.
The Watershed Connection: The Tallulah River, which forms Lake Burton, eventually flows into the Tugaloo River, which joins the Seneca River at Lake Hartwell to become the Savannah River.
Richard B. Russell State Park
Located on a 26,500-acre lake, Richard B. Russell State Park offers some of the state’s finest fishing and boating. The lake has been stocked with trout, making it the only trout lake in the area. Most facilities are designed for wheelchair accessibility, including the swimming beach. Several Indian sites were excavated near the park in 1980 before the lake was filled, indicating that Paleo-Indians lived in the area more than 10,000 years ago. This area is now called Rucker’s Bottom and lies deep within the waters of Lake Richard B. Russell.
The Watershed Connection: Lake Russell, between Hartwell Reservoir and Clarks Hill Reservoir, is filled by the Savannah River.
Skidaway Island State Park
Located near historic Savannah, this barrier island has both salt and fresh water due to the estuaries and marshes that flow through the area. The park borders Skidaway Narrows, a part of the intercoastal waterway. Two nature trails wind through marshes, live oaks, cabbage palmettos and longleaf pines, allowing visitors to watch for deer, raccoon, shore birds and fiddler crabs. Observation towers provide another chance for visitors to search for wildlife on this beautiful island.
The Watershed Connection: Skidaway is part of the estuarine system fed by the Savannah and Ogeechee Rivers.
Tallulah Gorge State Park
One of the most spectacular gorges in the eastern United States, the Tallulah chasm is 2 miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep. The park’s breathtaking views and the town’s rich history make this area a favorite stopping point along US Highway 441 – the main route between Atlanta and the Great Smoky Mountains. The park’s visitor center features an award-winning film that takes viewers on a dramatic journey through the gorge. Due to the rugged terrain and fragile plant and animal life, visitors must obtain a free permit from the visitor center (limited to 100 per day) before hiking into the gorge.
The Watershed Connection: The Tallulah River, which starts high in the North Carolina Mountains, flows through Tallulah Gorge, becomes the Tugaloo River and then the Savannah River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Savannah.
Tugaloo State Park
Situated on a rugged peninsula that juts into Hartwell Reservoir, Tugaloo’s cottages and campsites offer views of the water in every direction. Some cottages have boat docks for overnight guests. Fishing is good year-round and largemouth bass are plentiful. The name “Tugaloo” comes from an Indian name for the river, which flowed freely before the construction of Hartwell Dam.
The Watershed Connection: Below Hartwell Dam, Lake Tugaloo becomes the Savannah River, which, after stops at two more reservoirs (Richard Russell and Clarks Hill), flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
Victoria Bryant State Park
Nestled in the rolling hills of Georgia’s Upper Piedmont, this park has facilities ranging from picnic sites and a swimming pool to an 18-hole golf course and campground. Scenic Rice Creek flows through the park, providing the perfect setting for an after-picnic stroll. Hikers can follow either the short nature trail or the longer perimeter trail that winds through hardwoods. Alert hikers may spot wildlife while passing food plots along the perimeter trail.
The Watershed Connection: The park is in the Broad River Watershed. Creeks and tributaries around the park, including the same Rice Creek that winds through the park, flow into the Broad River, then into Clarks Hill Reservoir and eventually into the Savannah River and the Atlantic Ocean.
Watson Mill Bridge State Park
Known as one of the most picturesque and unique state parks in Georgia, Watson Mill Bridge contains the longest original-site covered bridge in Georgia, spanning 229 feet across the South Ford of the Broad River. The bridge, more than 100 years old, is supported by a town lattice truss system held firmly together with wooden pins. At one time, more than 200 covered bridges spanned Georgia rivers; today, less than 20 remain. The park is an ideal spot for an afternoon picnic or an overnight stay at the campground. Nature trails and hiking/horse trails allow visitors to enjoy a walk through the thick forest along the river or travel into the park’s backcountry.
The Watershed Connection: Watson Mill Bridge spans the South Fork of the Broad River, which flows into the Broad River, then into Clarks Hill Reservoir, which impounds the Savannah River. Below Clarks Hill, the Savannah flows through Augusta and then to the Atlantic Ocean.
Augusta Canal
Augusta sits on the Savannah River on the Fall Line, which is where the rolling hills of the Southern Piedmont meet the level Coastal Plain. In the first half of the 19th century, Augustans took advantage of their unique geography by building a canal to channel the Savannah River’s falling water to power mills and manufacturing plants. Though still used to power 19th century mills and the city’s water pumping station, the canal has reverted to a more natural state within the past half-century. Today, visitors to the 11.5-mile Augusta Canal National Heritage Area can experience the Fall Line ecosystem via canoe, bicycle or on foot along the wide gravel towpath.
Augusta Riverwalk
In the mid-1980s community leaders realized the potential for transforming the Augusta riverfront into a business and tourist center. Today, Riverwalk is a popular venue for festivals, concerts, sporting events and holiday celebrations. Action along the Riverwalk varies from national collegiate rowing competitions to high-powered drag boats screaming down the river at speeds well over 200 mph. A pleasant combination is a Riverwalk tour and a visit to the Cotton Exchange Welcome Center and Museum. Once home to the second largest inland cotton market in the world, this structure was built in 1886 and used by the Augusta Cotton Exchange until 1964. Many original items from this era are on display, including a 45-foot wooden blackboard, still chalked with cotton prices. Directions: (to Riverwalk) Located in downtown Augusta on Reynolds St between 7th and 10th Sts.
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park
Visitors can tour 1,100 acres of swampland operated as a bird and wildlife preserve only minutes from downtown Augusta off Lock-and-Dam Road. Walkways provide a close-up look at the variety of wildlife, from blue herons to bobcats, that calls the area home.
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
Located on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River, upstream from the city of Savannah, the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge consists of 28,168 acres of freshwater marshes, tidal rivers and creeks and bottomland hardwoods. Established in 1927, the 3,000 acres of freshwater pools (known as “impoundments”) managed for migratory waterfowl were formerly rice fields of plantations dating back to the mid-to-late 1700s. The dikes enclosing these pools were originally built by slaves and by the labor of itinerant Irishmen. All dikes are open to foot travel during daylight hours unless otherwise posted and provide excellent wildlife observation points. About half the refuge is bottomland, composed primarily of cypress, gum and maple trees. Access to this area is by boat only. Waterfowl are most abundant from November through February while alligators and other reptiles are common from March through October. Bird watching opportunities are good all year, but are best from October through April when temperatures are mild and many species of waterfowl and other wintering birds are present. Motorists are welcome on Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive, off US 17, which meanders along four miles of earthen dikes between managed freshwater pools and through hardwood hummocks. Cistern Trail and other walking routes are also available to the visiting public. From December 1 to February 28, entry into the impoundment area north of SC 170 is prohibited to reduce disturbance while wintering waterfowl numbers are at a peak. Bank fishing from the wildlife drive is permitted all year, while the entire impoundment system is open to fishing from March 1 to November 30 and is governed by South Carolina and Refuge regulations. The Refuge administers deer, feral hog, squirrel, turkey and waterfowl hunts. Permits to hunt on the refuge must be obtained from the Coastal Office in Savannah. A stamped, self-addressed envelope must accompany requests for permits. Directions: Savannah NWR is located on SC Hwy 170, 6 miles south of Hardeeville, SC via US 17 (Exit 5 off I-95); or 1 mile north of Port Wentworth, GA on Ga Hwy 25/ SC Hwy 170 (take I-95 exit 109 to Ga 21 S, then east on Ga 30 to Ga 25 N).
Savannah-Ogeechee Barge Canal Museum and Nature Center
Initially open to transport in 1831, the Historic Savannah-Ogeechee Barge Canal is one of the prime relics in the history of southern canals. Beginning with the tidal lock at the Savannah River, the waterway continues through four lift locks as it traverses 16.5 miles before reaching another tidal lock at the Ogeechee River. Along the way, the canal passes through Savannah’s 19th Century industrial corridor, former rice fields, timber tracts, and a still lush tidal river swamp and adjacent sandhill environment that is the characteristic habitat for several unique species of flora and fauna. In cooperation with Chatham County’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal Society is working to turn the National Register-listed canal into a multi-purpose linear park. Currently most of the effort is expended at the Ogeechee River terminus. Near Lock 5, a small museum and nature center is open to visitors with displays that characterize both the canal’s history and the natural history of the local area. A half-mile walk along the Heel or Two Paths is a good way to see this unique waterway. Directions: off Ga Hwy 204, 2.3 miles west of I-95.
Silver Bluff Plantation
Bordering the South Carolina side of the Savannah River, the 3,154-acre Silver Bluff Plantation is owned and operated by the National Audubon Society. The plantation demonstrates that forest land can produce substantial revenue while at the same time providing a home for wildlife. Added to the bargain is that it is a location that’s aesthetically pleasing to humans as well. Landowners, scientists, and others are encouraged to visit the plantation to learn and share ideas. A walk around 30-acre Kathwood Wood Stork foraging ponds at any time of year is likely to produce sightings of bald eagles, great blue herons, wood ducks, and a host of other species. A complete bird checklist is available at the sanctuary office next to the ponds. More information: contact the sanctuary manager.
Tagged with: Rivers Streams and Creeks in Georgia
Related Blogs
Overflow Creek Paddling Guide
Overflow Creek is a high-water run for skilled and intrepid boaters. Located in Rabun County, Overflow Creek joins Holcomb Creek and Big Creek at the headwaters of the West Fork of the Chattooga River, and a requisite stint on the latter precedes the take-out. Not for the faint of heart, the entire run is highly technical The stream is small but very powerfull when the water is high. If Section IV of the Chattooga bores you, try Overflow.
Overflow Creek Remembered
Excerpted from American Whitewaters web site, the following is a conversation about the first run on Overflow Creek, as relayed by Robin Sayler.
West Fork Chattooga River Paddling Guide
Protected within the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Area, the West Fork contaim 4 miles of extremely scenic canoeing for the novice and can be used as an intimate launching pad for a longer trip into Section II of the Chattooga.
Chattooga River Filming Deliverance
The movie, "Deliverance," starring Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty and Jon Voight and directed by John Boorman, was nominated for three Academy Awards in 1972, including Best Picture and Best Director. Based on the novel of the same name by Georgia native James Dickey, it was filmed on the Chattooga River in northeast Georgia. Georgia Canoeing Association members Doug Woodward, Claude Terry and Payson Kennedy served as technical advisors for the movie, and Woodward and Terry served as doubles in the film.
Outdoors in Georgia: Ebenezer Creek Paddling Guide
A black water tributary of the lower Savannah River, Ebenezer Creek boasts a rich history cast within a distinctly rare natural environment. This 13-mile run passes through ancient dwarf cypress and tupelo forests drowned in small shallow lakes that shelter a wide variety of bird and animal species. The sanctuary that the creek has historically provided is now reciprocated by the state of Georgia: it is one of only four waterways designed as a Georgia Scenic River and is a National Natural Landmark.
Paddling Guides in Georgia: Broad River
The Broad River is, along with the Chattooga, one of the major northern tributaries in the Savannah River watershed. With 50 miles of navigable river from its inception to Thurmond Lake, the Broad offers nearly year-round opportunities for canoeing and camping except in periods of extreme drought. The 6 miles of river in the upper section contain most of the river's rapids. In the lower section, the Broad becomes a pastoral stream eminently suited for beginning canoeists and those desiring a relaxed canoeing-camping experience. Locals consider the Broad to start at the confluence of its two largest tributaries: the Middle Fork and Hudson Rivers. For those interested in floating the entire length of the Broad River, US 29 provides access to both of these rivers upstream of the confluence.
Brier Creek Paddling Guide
An intimate stream of primeval beauty, Brier Creek’s birthplace lies near the fall line west of Augusta. Unlike most Georgia rivers of its latitude, Brier Creek threads a winding path through dense vegetation reminiscent of the Coastal Plains. Shallow, sloping banks of red clay cradle the stream; trees festooned with Spanish moss arch overhead. In the section described here, it is a sizable creek, averaging 30 to 50 feet wide in the upper sections and up to 60 to 85 feet at the mouth, where it mingles with the Savannah River in a lowland swamp.
Chattooga River Paddling Guide by Claude Terry
The story below by Claude Terry was written for Brown's Guides in 1972 after his experience as a consultant and double on the movie "Deliverance," and before the Chattooga was named a Wild and Scenic River. Read it in conjunction with the essay by Doug Woodward about his, Claude's and Payson Kennedy's experiences filming the movie "Deliverance."
Savannah River Paddling Guide
One of Georgia's longest and largest rivers, the Savannah originates in Hart County in northeastern Georgia. Flowing southeast, the Savannah travels approximately 300 miles and drains an area of 10,600 square miles before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near the city of Savannah. The journey of the Savannah from source to mouth is a study of contrasts. It originates clear, cool, and free flowing in the Blue Ridge Mountains. However, its mountain tributaries are dammed and impounded many times before even reaching the Savannah. The Savannah itself comes into being not as a surging, vibrant stream, but as a still mass of backwater in the Hartwell Reservoir, into which the Savannah's parent tributaries, the Tugaloo and the Seneca, empty.
South Fork Broad River Paddling Guide
The South Fork Broad River is a short but sweet Broad River tributary. Rising in northwestern Madison County, it flows southeastward through predominantly agricultural land before entering the Broad River east of Athens. The most noteworthy rapids are found in the lower section. An extensive shoal that can reach up to Class III intensity is located below the dam at Watson Mill State Park.
Chattooga River Paddling Guide by Suzanne Welander
The famed Chattooga is one of the nation's most renowned rivers. Its reputation is well deserved – it is a spectacular wilderness river that frolics through rock outcroppings and forest thickets that contain virtually no sign of human habitation. Located along the Georgia-South Carolina border, the river is protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and managed by the U.S. Forest Service, which divides the river into sections. The river above GA 28 (including Section I from Burrells Ford to the GA 28 Bridge) is the only stretch of river in Georgia where paddling is prohibited by law. The remaining three sections consist of 28 miles of pristine whitewater paddling that encompass something for all paddlers, from beginners to experts. Its excellence rivals any river in the country.
Warwoman Creek Paddling Guide
Are you interested in spring creekin' but aren't quite ready for Overflow, the Chauga, or even lower Amicalola? Try Warwoman up in Rabun County. It drops close to 100 feet in 4 miles before running into the Chattooga at Earls Ford. Warwoman is appropriate for solid intermediate-level paddlers, but the party should include an experienced leader. A dirt road, albeit a short distance away, provides difficult, but do-able, land extraction options. Unusually scenic, Warwoman is a good creek to practice eddy turns, side surfing, boat-scouting drops, and water reading. The water flows at a very rapid rate, helping to create lots of nice relatively technical Class II rapids, even more surfing holes, and three significant Class III drops. Scout the various blind drops, as they are technical and can be dangerous because of undercuts and possible strainers.
Hudson River Paddling Guide
The Hudson River, the prettiest of the Broad River tributaries, is born in western Banks County, north of Athens. In contrast with the Broad River, its course is narrow and intimate. The scenery remains pleasing despite the growth of houses near the stream. In the upper section, passage can be difficult due to the river's small channel and numerous deadfalls. As the Hudson nears the confluence with the Middle Fork Broad River (forming the Broad River), rapids increase, making for a pretty and enjoyable paddling experience.
Tallulah River Paddling Guide
The Tallulah River is both a small stream of outstanding beauty and a dramatic whitewater run that pushes the limits of navigability. The headwaters are unbelievably clear, attracting avid anglers and occasionally paddlers interested in a technical Class II-III run amid moss-covered boulders. At the other end of the river is the celebrated Tallulah Gorge, home to read-and-run whitewater from Class IV+ to Class V and an exploding wall of water that could only be called The Thing. In between these two extremes are four dams and very little navigable river other than the middle run described below.
Middle Fork Broad River Paddling Guide
The Middle Fork Broad River is born in the Chattahoochee National Forest east of Cornelia. Though adventurous boaters have plied the rapids nearer the headwaters, the river is not usually considered paddleable until found in its tamed form outside the town of Franklin springs. The section described below included mild Class I-II rapids near the beginning of the run. Farther downstream, the river subsumes the flow of the North Fork before joining the Hudson River to form the Broad River. The proximate terrain throughout this area is rolling forested hills, but occasional intrusions of farmland make human activity easily.
North Fork Broad River Paddling Guide
The North Fork Broad River has its headwaters in Stephens County near Toccoa. The section described here provides a mild journey through a mostly wooded environment near the end of the river. Although not covered here, the river can also be navigated in the hilly areas of southern Stephens County; the consistently mild gradient produces few rapids or shoals. After entering Franklin County, passage becomes difficult, as a great deal of the river's course becomes slow flowing and marshy. Deadfall portages are frequent from the crossing of GA 145 north of Carnesville downstream to Jackson Bridge Road. To avoid an unpleasant experience, it is inadvisable to attempt this section above Jackson Bridge unless there has been above-average but not torrential rainfall.
